Irrational fears.

Junkyard Tom

For their size a Daddy Long Legs is incredibly strong. If a Daddy Long Legs was the same weight as a cat it would be able to lift a large car and fly off with it.

Dial Hard

I can't think of anything I'm downright scared of. I don't care for clowns or mimes but I wouldn't have a fear reaction in the presence of one. Conversely, I have a friend who's scared of pretty much everything. I don't understand it. If there was a spider in her apartment, she'd nearly ring me to go around and get rid of it. Ditto flies, moths, earwigs - pretty much any insect. And it's not just dislike, it's actual fear. We're just back from Mexico and there was fab wildlife all around the resort - geckos, lizards, iguanas, raccoons, possums - everything was "If that thing comes near me, I'll scream". I just find it so puzzling. Being that scared of everything, like. She rang me earlier in actual hysterics because she'd found a dead lizard in her suitcase when she was emptying it, I had to go around and get rid of it for her. Now, I totally get that that would be a nasty surprise for anyone but she was full-on hyperventilating and when I went around she was waiting outside the apartment and wouldn't even go back in until I'd removed it and she made me chuck the top she'd found it in too. That's not a rational response, imo. I'd hate to live my life like that.

Dial Hard

Dial Hard wrote: »

I can't think of anything I'm downright scared of. I don't care for clowns or mimes but I wouldn't have a fear reaction in the presence of one. Conversely, I have a friend who's scared of pretty much everything. I don't understand it. If there was a spider in her apartment, she'd nearly ring me to go around and get rid of it. Ditto flies, moths, earwigs - pretty much any insect. And it's not just dislike, it's actual fear. We're just back from Mexico and there was fab wildlife all around the resort - geckos, lizards, iguanas, raccoons, possums - everything was "If that thing comes near me, I'll scream". I just find it so puzzling. Being that scared of everything, like. She rang me earlier in actual hysterics because she'd found a dead lizard in her suitcase when she was emptying it, I had to go around and get rid of it for her. Now, I totally get that that would be a nasty surprise for anyone but she was full-on hyperventilating and when I went around she was waiting outside the apartment and wouldn't even go back in until I'd removed it and she made me chuck the top she'd found it in too. That's not a rational response, imo. I'd hate to live my life like that.

You have more patience than I would. I suspect she doesn't have a specific fear of every reptile, small animal and insect of existence and that she experiences nothing more than mild anxiety - but she has learned, probably in childhood, will get someone else to deal with the problem if she overstates it, and in overstating it she's begun to experience anxiety commensurate with the level of statement that gets results.

I'm sure she's uncomfortable, but she's probably talked herself into actual fear without realizing it.

Dial Hard

Candie wrote:

I'm sure she's uncomfortable, but she's probably talked herself into actual fear without realizing it.

You're probably right. I generally don't indulge her, I've better things to be doing than being spider remover in chief for a grown woman but she was genuinely in hysterics over the lizard earlier.

Lily_Aldrin7

PsychoPete wrote: »

Closing my eyes in front of a mirror for the fear that when I open them there will be something behind me

Same!

Andrewf20

Lying in bed at night looking out into the dark landing.

Or in bed at night with a dressing gown hanging on the back of the door.

Used to bother me a little but not so much anymore.

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts

Dial Hard wrote: »

I can't think of anything I'm downright scared of. I don't care for clowns or mimes but I wouldn't have a fear reaction in the presence of one. Conversely, I have a friend who's scared of pretty much everything. I don't understand it. If there was a spider in her apartment, she'd nearly ring me to go around and get rid of it. Ditto flies, moths, earwigs - pretty much any insect. And it's not just dislike, it's actual fear. We're just back from Mexico and there was fab wildlife all around the resort - geckos, lizards, iguanas, raccoons, possums - everything was "If that thing comes near me, I'll scream". I just find it so puzzling. Being that scared of everything, like. She rang me earlier in actual hysterics because she'd found a dead lizard in her suitcase when she was emptying it, I had to go around and get rid of it for her. Now, I totally get that that would be a nasty surprise for anyone but she was full-on hyperventilating and when I went around she was waiting outside the apartment and wouldn't even go back in until I'd removed it and she made me chuck the top she'd found it in too. That's not a rational response, imo. I'd hate to live my life like that.

For those of us with a spider fear, this is pretty standard. I stayed in my bedroom all day recently until my husband got home to remove the spider marauding around rest of the apartment. I don’t get the mocking or denigration of primal fears like that. We’re not doing it for the craic. We’re very well aware that it’s irrational. I’d be very happy to be no longer be afraid of spiders.

JustAThought

Y -I asked my father to get rid of the butterfly for me when he was over 4 days ago and he basically told me to grow up. He'll be sorry if I show up for Sunday dinner smelling like a spck left in a bog. Its still there btw. Alive and dangling. I am still afraid of it & not using the bathroom. How long does it take a butterfly to die & how long can they not move for. It occasionally twirls its antannae. I am sick thinking of it. It is an irrational fear but the fear is real. Be kind to your spider friend.

Graces7

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts wrote: »

For those of us with a spider fear, this is pretty standard. I stayed in my bedroom all day recently until my husband got home to remove the spider marauding around rest of the apartment. I don’t get the mocking or denigration of primal fears like that. We’re not doing it for the craic. We’re very well aware that it’s irrational. I’d be very happy to be no longer be afraid of spiders.

I killed a spider y'day, reluctantly but no fear.. I mean if I waited for someone to help ....it was outside my bedroom door and clearly intended entrance..

Graces7

JustAThought wrote: »

Y -I asked my father to get rid of the butterfly for me when he was over 4 days ago and he basically told me to grow up. He'll be sorry if I show up for Sunday dinner smelling like a spck left in a bog. Its still there btw. Alive and dangling. I am still afraid of it & not using the bathroom. How long does it take a butterfly to die & how long can they not move for. It occasionally twirls its antannae. I am sick thinking of it. It is an irrational fear but the fear is real. Be kind to your spider friend.

well you could wash in the kitchen! Unless you want to make a statement! I can now manipulate critters out of rooms...

FishOnABike

Dial Hard wrote: »

You're probably right. I generally don't indulge her, I've better things to be doing than being spider remover in chief for a grown woman but she was genuinely in hysterics over the lizard earlier.

Check the suitcase again. What killed the lizard?

Dial Hard

FishOnABike wrote:

Check the suitcase again. What killed the lizard?

10 hours at 35,000 feet in an unheated, unpressurised luggage hold.